Analysis of protein expression by western blot was performed by modifying our previous method.(3 (link)) Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) content in liver nuclei was assessed by using the primary antibody against NF-κB (sc-8008, mouse mAb; Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Dallas, TX). For insulin signal pathway, phospho-insulin receptor β, phospho-protein kinase B (Akt/PKB) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) expressions were quantified by using the primary antibodies against these proteins respectively; sc-81500 (mouse mAb; Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc.), #4060S (rabbit mAb; Cell Signaling Technology, Inc., Danvers, MA) and ab3259 (mouse mAb; Abcam plc., Cambridge, UK). As corresponding secondary antibody, goat anti-mouse IgG-HRP (sc-2031; Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc.) or goat anti-rabbit IgG H&L (HRP) (ab205718; Abcam plc.) was used. Generally, as housekeeping proteins, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, β-actin, and Histone H1 are used. But, in our NASH model, these protein expressions were altered from control rat livers (data not shown) because of the change of nutrient energy metabolism, fibrosis, and oxidative stress. Therefore, we did not express housekeeping protein expressions. We made samples for western blot analysis with the same amount of total proteins with each other. Then, we loaded the same volume samples to equalize the loading dose.